Willow baccharis

Baccharis salicina

Summary 7

Baccharis salicina (willow baccharis / Great Plains false willow) is a species of North American plants in the sunflower family. This plant is a smooth shrub and a warm-season native. It is a perennial that usually has a life span of less than 15 years.

Botanical information 8

Baccharis salicina, commonly known as willow baccharis, is a perennial shrub that grows 3 to 9 feet tall. The stem grows erect and has many branches. The leaves are long, narrow and simple and have an alternate arrangement. The leaves are pale grayish-green and kind of stiff with 1-3 teeth on the distal margin of the leaf. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants making this plant "dioecious". The bud is green, bell-shaped, and hairy. The flowers appear in clusters on short stalks and form a dull white string of feathers when mature. The flower is white and it often blooms in late summer and fall. Its fruit type is an achene. Achene is a dry and enclosed fruit. It is a ribbed achene with surrounding white hairs that appear in August.

Ecological information 9

Willow baccharis is a plant native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is also known as a native to California. It is commonly found in the deserts, mainly in moist soils in open areas such as open sandy plains. It is found in disturbed areas or along roadsides. It grows most commonly in mildly saline areas. It also grows in woodland habitat. It is found in wet areas in dry desert such as stream beds, stream banks, alkaline marshes, edges of ponds and lake shores. Baccharis salicina can provide a good cover for small mammals. It provides nesting area for redwing blackbirds. It has a great importance to wildlife because it protects and provides shade for them. It also provides food for some animals. Cattle often eat the young leaves and twigs of this plant.

Ethnobotanical information 9

Willow baccharis is used medicinally to relax smooth muscle, heal soft tissue, as an expectorant and anti-inflammatory. It is used to relieve diarrhea spasms. It reduces bowel spasms by inhibiting smooth muscle depolarization. It is helpful in limiting intestinal excess, or gas. It can reduce pain in the wounded area because it is also a mild anti-inflammatory.

References 10

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BASA
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250066188
Bosque Field Guide
Cartron, Lightfoot, Mygatt, Brantley, Lowrey. (2008). A Field Guide to the Plants and Animals of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque. (p. 56). New Mexico, University of New Mexico Press.
Saville, Dara. (2021). The Ecology of Herbal Medicine, A Guide to Plants and Living Landscapes of the American Southwest. (p.) Albuquerque, New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press.

About the Author 11

Student author(s)*: Sarah (age 18) from Menaul School

*The entries in this field guide have been edited by Yerba Mansa Project staff to ensure that they contain quality, fact-checked content and standardized formatting. https://yerbamansaproject.org/

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel/36579679240/
  2. (c) J. N. Stuart, all rights reserved, uploaded by J. N. Stuart, http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartwildlife/3650553593/
  3. (c) sea-kangaroo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by sea-kangaroo
  4. (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Katja Schulz
  5. (c) Matthew Salkiewicz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Matthew Salkiewicz
  6. (c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel/36788662266/
  7. Adapted by Hannah from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baccharis_salicina
  8. Adapted by smiller33 from a work by (c) nhinguyen, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
  9. Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) nhinguyen, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
  10. Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) smiller33, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
  11. (c) smiller33, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

iNat Map

Type Shrub
Uses medicinal
Color white
Leaves pale green